ARENACROSS
AMSOIL ARENACROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
FINAL ROUND/MARCH 29-30, 2014
ENERGY SOLUTIONS ARENA/SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
P106
rode good, had a good series
and learned a lot."
But changing programs in the
middle of the series was not an
easy thing to do for the North
Carolina resident. "Switching to
a different bike at round four was
definitely a challenge," Hayes
added. "I rode it for only the sec-
ond time at Milwaukee and did
some suspension testing after
that. We got it dialed in and put
the hammer down towards the
end of the series and started
gaining some momentum. I'm
really pumped on my series and
to come out second overall, I'm
happy."
Team Babbitt's Monster En-
ergy Amsoil Kawasaki's Zach
Ames went 8-2 for third overall in
Salt Lake, and he also finished
third overall in the series. With
five wins, Ames was in the run-
ning and was the points leader
for most of the series until a few
bad events at Reno, Nevada and
Hidalgo, Texas. Ames knows the
rules and how the system works,
but that doesn't mean he likes it.
"It was my best year and it
was good," he said. "I did a lot
of preparation coming in and did
my homework and a lot of testing
and training was involved. I put
my head down the whole series
and rode smart and stayed out
of trouble the best I could and
tried not to make any enemies
and just do my own thing. I am
frustrated with the points and the
race to the championship thing.
We work the whole series to earn
a championship and then with
four races to go, they re-set the
points. It punishes the guys who
work hard for it and it gives the
other guys a second chance."
But he also plans on being
back again in the running next
year. "I'm going to have a good
off season and be even more
prepared and I'm going to win
this thing next year," Ames add-
(Above) Jacob Hayes came out of
nowhere to finish second in the
championship.
(Right) Arenacross rookie Kyle Regal
finished out the year in fourth.
